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Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, announced today that Fr. Robert Barron, widely known as founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, will become the Rector/President of Mundelein Seminary and it's mother institution, the University of St. Mary of the Lake.
Fr. Barron has become a household name not only to CMR readers, but around the world with his ten-part series, Catholicism, as well as his YouTube videos, articles and books. A scholar, preacher, teacher and unapologetic advocate of the New Evangelization, Fr. Barron speaks often that Catholics should be "happy warriors" for the Faith.
According to a statement released on the Word on Fire web page, his appointment will take effect on July 1, 2012, succeeding Msgr. Dennis Lyle, who has served as Rector/President for the last six years.

Yeah, I'm not convinced of Fr. Barron's traditional leanings, myself. I hope I'm wrong. I sure didn't know that he showed any kind of support or sympathy for the heretic nuns. I'll have to look into that further.

The "New Evangelization" - a term coined by John Paul II - isn't opposed to or a replacement of the "old evangelization", but it's simply an evangelization of the members of the Catholic Church who have either fallen away or are in the process of doing so. No need for the edginess.

To the bigot who asked about the "lavender" problem: for those of you who dont know th term it means HOMOSEXUAL. And the only problem I would see is if there was an active HOMOSEXUAL lifestyle and those seminarians should be removed. The Church teaches us that we are not to discriminate against homosexuals and anonymous bigotted remarks like this one call for a need to seek forgiveness. I assure you there are gay seminarians and gay priests at Mundelein. My prayer is that they are chaste, holy men, who compels others to lead a Christ centerd and focused life. Period.

I am so glad to hear this good news about Fr. Barron being named rector of Mundelein Seminary. I have read all (ALL) of his books and have shown CATHOLICISM to a parish where we had a great turn-out. It is a wonderful tool for presenting the Catholic faith. Fr. Barron says he wants to introduce the image of the priest as the "soul doctor," that is, to help people get get in touch with the mystery of God so as not to get hooked on "errant desire." He sees the priest working to help people become transformed in Christ. He wants to overcome both clericalism and mediocrity in the priesthood, functionalism, and "beige" Catholicism in favor of developing priestly vocations of men with great souls who can be soul doctors and help people get in touch with the sacred. He wants to form priests who will know how to make the sacraments "speak" to people. Celibacy: "The mark of a soul in love." Lay people have work to do that is as important as the priesthood, but in a different sphere--as good Catholic lawyers, doctors, plumbers, mothers, fathers, etc. The divisions between clerical and lay have to be set aside--there is plenty of work to do for everyone. Amen.

I am stunned that Cardinal George actually appointed a good priest to this position! I guess Fr. Michael Phleger wasn't available. But wait until Fr. Barron starts weeding out the heresy and demanding that Catholic teaching be upheld. There will be open revolt, the newspapers and the TV media will call Fr. Barron a mean, tyranical despot. Cardinal George will cave in like he always does and another pro gay, pro abortion, anti Catholic priest will be put in charge again.

Thank you, someone had to put things in perspective. It is a sad statement on the state of the church and her pastors that Fr. Barron (his disbelief in the historicity of Adam is only one of his errors) is considered to be a light of orthodoxy.

Indeed, he is likely more orthodox in his beliefs than many but still....(insert heavy sigh)

That being said, he seems to mean well and I do wish him the best and will pray for him in his new position.

From what I've seen of Fr. Barron, his explanations of Catholic beliefs are not doctrinally sound. His new position is proof of this. We're living in a time when priests who are 100 percent faithful to the Pope and the Magesterium are run out of town - not charged with cleaning up a seminary.

Wasn't Mundelein featured in the notorious "Goodbye Good Men" as being filthy with the homosexual agenda? Yet, Fr. Barron was on EWTN last year singing it's praises as though it had been a beacon of orthodoxy since its foundation. That was very insulting and suspicious and yet now it makes sense.

To the person nonsensically calling another commenter a BIGOT: You should familiarize yourself with the Pope and his declarations. He has stated clearly that homosexuals are not to be admitted to the seminary.

"The Instruction, issued by the Congregation for Catholic Education and approved by Pope Benedict XVI, affirms that men who identify themselves as homosexuals should not be ordained to the priesthood or admitted to seminary training."

If you google "Goodbye Good Men" and look at pages 60,61,and 62 (at least)you will find testimony regarding the gay culture at Mundelein. (You can read these pages through Google books). Michael Rose, the author is well respected and there is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the testimony. Fr. Trigilio is a contributor to the book.

There has been no evidence that the "culture" has changed at Mundelein. Now why would Fr. Barron go on national television (EWTN) and proclaim Mundelein's greatness? That's very duplicitous.

I have major concerns about Father Baron who endorses The Shack, a protestant book presenting universal salvation, and a heretical Trinity. The Trinity happens to be the core of our faith. When interviewed by Teresa Tomeo shortly after the HHS Mandate was announced, he also said that the HHS "thing" was not a call to arms.....hmmm if that "thing" which forces Catholics to participate in intrinsic evils, is not a call to arms what is???

I'm sorry. I did not intend for my "lavender" comment to be hurtful. My intent was to ask the question as delicately as possible. I am not a homophobe, or a bigot, my brother died of aids in the 80's. My sadness is that the sin of lust took him from his family way to young, I certainly did not hate him.I know the rule is that no men are to be admited to seminary if they suffer from same sex attraction but I also know this has been a serious problem in the past. 3 women I met though my work were ex sisters that felt compelled to leave their orders because of the agressive homosexual atmosphere that "came out" in the 70's and there is more than one tale of men being warned away from seminary by others who had had bad experiences. Even minor seminary students have been affected in the past. I was simply asking if this seminary was one that has been known to have the problem. I just don't think you help a fox stop wanting to eat chicken by putting housing them in the chicken coop! Makes no sense.